Aims of education in India in the context of Democratic,
Secular, Egalitarian and Humane society
INTRODUCTION
‘’Education is not preparation for life; Education is
life itself’’ – John Dewey
The importance of aims and objectives of education is recognised
by all the educational, professional, political, nonpolitical and religious
associations, organizations and groups at various levels in their memoranda,
letter and brouchures .It is said that
education without clear cut aims is like a rudderless ship.
Education is a purposeful activity. Like all purposeful
activities it has certain well defined aims and objectives. Modern India is a
Secular Democratic Republic and wants to establish a socialistic pattern of
society.
DEMOCRACY
The word Democracy has been derived from two Greek roots ’’
Demos ‘’ and ‘’Cratic’’ which means power and public respectively. Hence
Etimologically Democracy means Power of the people as a whole.
Definition
‘’Democracy is the form of government in which the ruling
power of the state is legally vested not in any particular individual or class
but in the members of the community as a whole’’.
Democracy and Aims of Education
1
Development
of Democratic values
The success of Democracy does not
depend up on legislative buildings and massive structures of Parliament houses,
but it rests up on the quality of the citizens devoted to Democratic values. As
such, the prime Aim of Democratic Education is to promote in children a sense
of devotion to Democratic values. No book teaching can achieve this aim unless
children are provided with opportunities to practice Democratic norms and
standards of behavior. In fact, a child learns to live Democratically by living
Democratically. Hence, the whole Educational set up of a school should reflect
the values of Democratic Philosophy.
2
Development
of worthy interests
Interest form character and enrich a
child’s life. To achieve this aim, children should be provided with various and
varied opportunities to participate in diverse activities and programmes in all
field of human life. If large number of worthy interests are developed in children,
they will be happy, well-balanced and efficient as citizens.
3
Development
of vocational efficiency
For
the success of a democratic set up, economic contentment of citizens is a must .An
indigent and poor person can be a victim of all kinds of allurements,
inducements and exploitation by the resourceful and the powerful. Hence, the
third aim of democratic education is to develop vocational efficiency in
children, so that they are able to become self –reliant and serve the nation as
much as possible.
4
Development
of sound habits
The fourth aim of democratic education is
to develop sound habits in children. Habits are the sources of good or bad
conduct. Hence, education should develop good habits in children from the very
beginning to make democracy a successful venture.
5
Development
of thinking power
The fifth aim of democratic education is
to develop thinking power of children. In fact ,children of today are citizens
of tomorrow when they will be confronted
with all land of problems in political, social and economic fields. Education
should develop in children the capacity to think clearly and take decisions
confidently.
6
Development
of social outlook
This aim emphasizes upon the fact that
children should be imbued with the sense that they are the integral parts of
society, the welfare of which should be their ideal. Not only this, they should
learn to live and die for the nation.
Education should develop this sense of service and sacrifice making them learn
sacredness of obligations and duties for the welfare of the nation to which
they belong.
7
Development
of harmonious personality
In the modern world of strife, stress
and strain, a balanced and harmonious personality can only seek and find
adjustment with the surroundings. Hence, education should develop character,
dynamism and social outlook for this purpose.
8
Development
of leadership
Education should instill in children the
leadership qualities from the very beginning .They are the future citizens who
will have to shoulder the multifarious duties and responsibilities of their in
all areas. Their character, strength of will, insight, courage of convictions,
clarity of thinking and decision-making will be the foundations on which the
national edifice will go up and up.
9
Development
of national and international feelings
For the success of democracy, the ninth
aim of education is to develop in children the sense of ardent nationalism and
devotion to international brotherhood. It may be noted that the two are not
contradictory. On the other hand, they are mutually complementary and
supplementary. In fact a nation cannot exist in isolation. All the nations of
the world are mutually interdependent. Hence, education should foster the sense
of interdependence, international goodwill and fellow -feeling. Then only, the concept
of world peace and prosperity will be reality.
10 Training for citizenship
Democratic education should impart to
children training in dynamic and healthy citizenship. For this , education
should instill in children-
(1) Capacity to distinguish between propaganda and
reality of the country
(2) Capacity to think and decide about issues
(3) Economic efficiency
(4) Conciousness of one’s rights and duties
(5) Capacity to shoulder responsibility
(6) Development of diverse interests
(7) Sense of service and sacrifice
(8) Good use of leisure hour
(9) Development of human qualities as love ,
sympathy , fellow feeling , co-operation , sense of nationalism and
internationalism
(10)
Healthy and dynamic outlook about problems ,
good behavior and respect for moral values.
SECULARISM
The
word secularism is derived from the Latin word’ Saeculum’ means ’this present
age ’.Secularism came to be known as social and ethical system. It primarily
emphasize on natural and cultural improvements of human beings.
Definition
Secularism
can be defined as, ‘’a system of doctrines and practices that rejects any form
of religious faith and worship’’.
Secularism
and aims of education
1. Secular education develops a moral out look
2. Secular education helps in the development liberal attitudes and values
3. It develops wider vision
4. It develops an attitude of appreciation and understanding of others point of view
5. It develops democratic values and humanistic outlook
6. Secular education synthesis materialism and spiritualism
7. Secular education serves as an antidote to religious fanaticism and hatred
1. Secular education develops a moral out look
2. Secular education helps in the development liberal attitudes and values
3. It develops wider vision
4. It develops an attitude of appreciation and understanding of others point of view
5. It develops democratic values and humanistic outlook
6. Secular education synthesis materialism and spiritualism
7. Secular education serves as an antidote to religious fanaticism and hatred
The term EGALITARIAN is derived from
the French word "égal", meaning "equal" or
"level", and was first used in English in the 1880s, although the
equivalent term "equalitarian" dates
from the late 18th Century.. An egalitarian favours equality of some sort:
People should get the same, or be treated the same, or be treated as equals, in
some respect. People should be treated as equals, should treat one another as
equals, should relate as equals, or enjoy an equality of social status of some
sort. Equality of opportunity could be fully satisfied in a society in which
wealth passed along by inheritance from generation to generation fundamentally
determines everyone's competitive prospects. In this society jobs and positions
and so on would be open to all applicants.
Every human being has the right to
live with dignity. And in an egalitarian society all have equal right to
participate in socio-political decision making. Many peoples in our find it
difficult to live with dignity; due to poverty – defined as lack of control on
socio-economic and political factors effecting their lives. The reasons behind
this deprivation can be seen as: one, lack of control over the means of
production; and two, lack of opportunities to develop capabilities.Education
directly effects the personal capabilities of individuals, and thereby, of
sections of society. Educational equality plays a greater role in bringing
social equality.
Aim of
Education in an Egalitarian society
{ To
eradicate the in equality in our society through making aware of their rights
and duties.
{ To
develop the capabilities of individuals to lead a life with dignity.
{ To
obtain justice for the weaker sections of the community.
{ To provide
equally valuable educations that give students a rich set of options for the
future.
{ To
bring social equality.
{ To
develop the value of democratic citizenship.
HUNANE SOCIETY
In a humane society human beings are
prominent. Education in a humane society is a gradual and unhurried process in
which the development of human character follows the unfolding of nature. In
this Students should be able to choose what they want to learn, because
students will be motivated to learn a subject if it's something they need and
want to know. Humanistic educators believe that both feelings and knowledge are
important to the learning process.
Humanistic educators insist that
schools need to provide students with anon threatening environment so that they
will feel secure to learn. Once students feel secure, learning becomes easier
and more meaningful.
Aim of Education in a Humane Society
Ø The
goal of education should be to foster students' desire to learn and teach them
how to learn.
Ø Students
should be self-motivated in their studies and desire to learn on their own.
Ø The
focus on the social and emotional well-being of the child, as well as the
cognitive.
Ø Development
of a healthy self-concept, awareness of the psychological needs, helping
students to strive to be all that they can.
Ø The goal of humanistic education is to contribute to the development of
energetic, positive, self-respecting, caring human beings who can meet all challenges.
CONCLUSION
The family being a small
social unit, young children can easily understand their position and realise
their rights and obligations in an adequate manner. The foundations laid in the
family should be consolidated and extended in the school. While preparing curricular
and co curricular activities we have to consider the values of democratic
secular egalitarian and humane society.
